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INVESTIGATION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  STATUS 
OF  "NON-GAME  BIRDS. 


By  H.  C.|  BRYANT 


Bellow  in  Applied  Zoology  on  the  Fish  and  Game  Commission  Foundation  in  th« 

University  of  California. 


With  Figures  1-8. 


Printed  at  State  Printing  Office,  Friend  Wm.  Richardson,  Superintendent 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMlTTAL 

EAST  HALL,  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA, 

BERKELEY,  CAL.,  Sept.  16,  1912. 

'1  In    llnnm-iilil,    l><,<i,-(l  of  Fish  and  Game  Commissioners  for  the  State 
<>f  California. 

(  IKNTI.KMKX  :  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a  report  on  the 
Hinl  investigations  from  the  commencement  of  the  work,  January  1, 
1911,  to  June  30,  1912. 

The  work  of  this  department  has  consisted  in  the  accumulation  and 
publication  of  data  regarding  the  relations  of  certain  non-game  birds 
to  the  agricultural  interests  of  the  State.  Four  methods  have  been 
used  in  the  work — field  investigation,  experimentation,  laboratory  exam- 
ination of  stomachs,  and  circulars  of  inquiry. 

Field  investigation  has  been  depended  on  to  furnish  data  as  to  the 
ti'-predations  of  birds,  and  as  to  the  kind,  quantity,  and  preference  of 
food.  Investigations  of  the  relations  of  birds  to  insect  outbreaks  have 
been  fruitful  of  valuable  information  as  to  the  part  played  by  birds 
in  helping  to  maintain  an  equilibrium. 

Experimentation  has  been  relied  upon  to  furnish  evidence  as  to  the 
kind,  quantity,  and  the  preference  of  food  of  nestlings,  and  the  time 
of  digestion. 

Emphasis  has  been  placed  on  the  laboratory  examination  of  stomachs, 
•is  tli is  affords  the  most  reliable  information  as  to  the  food  of  birds. 

Reports  from  the  men  most  directly  concerned  are  being  depended 
on  to  furnish  information  as  to  the  extent  of  the  depredations  of  'cer- 
tain birds,  and  as  to  how  they  are  regarded  by  those  who  are  in  a 
position  to  know  their  relations  to  agriculture. 

It  seemed  best  to  concentrate  effort  on  those  birds  of  whose  depreda- 
tions most  complaint  has  arisen  in  recent  years.  Endeavor  has  there- 
fore been  centered  on  the  western  meadowiark  (Sturnella  neglecta), 
the  blackbirds  '  Aydaiu*  phceniceus  subsp.),  (Agelaius  bicolor}, 
(Euphayus  cyanocephalus).  the  western  robin  (Plantesticus  migrato- 
/•/'//>•  propinquus),  the  horned  lark  (Otocoris  alpestris  subsp.),  the  west- 
ern mourning  dove  (Zenaidura  macroura  marginetta) ,  and  the  road- 
runner  (Geococcyx  calif ornicus) .  Collections  of  these  birds  taken 
every  month  of  the  year,  and  in  over  twenty-five  different  localities  in 
the  State,  have  been  made  by  the  deputies  of  the  Commission,  and  are 
now  on  hand  in  process  of  examination.  Over  eight  hundred  and 
thirty  stomachs  of  meadowlarks  have  been  examined  in  the  laboratory, 
and  their  contents  analyzed  and  tabulated.  A  final  report  on  the 
<•«-,. nt.niie  status  of  this  bird  is  in  the  course  of  preparation. 

There  is  little  positive  information  available  regarding  the  abun- 
<bmrr.  distribution,  migration,  and  food-habits  of  the  game  birds  of 
the  State.  This  information  is  necessary  to  a  sane  conservation  policy. 

271438 


—  2  — 


It  is/&eMeSi'e^ft*t^is;c}epaHnient  to  extend  its  work  to  include  the 
game  birds,  and  so  be  able  to  furnish  this  information. 

It  is  hoped  that  this  department,  by  furnishing  positive  data  as  to 
the  food  of  certain  non-game  birds,  and  as  to  the  life  histories  of  the 
game  birds  of  the  State,  may  correct  the  widespread  ignorance  on  these 
subjects,  and  may  thus  promote  needed  interest  and  protection,  the 
principal  factors  in  a  sane  conservation  policy. 
Respectfully  submitted. 

H.  C.  BRYANT, 
In  Charge  Bird  Investigations. 


HISTORY    OF   THE   INVESTIGATION. 

The  total  extinction  of  the  passenger  pigeon  and  the  near  extinction 
of  several  other  birds  is  bringing  to  the  American  people  convincing 
evidence  of  the  necessity  of  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  economic  value 
of  birds.  The  large  number  of  publications  on  the  food  habits  of  birds 
issued  by  the  U.  S.  Biological  Survey  and  the  State  Agricultural  Ex- 
periment Stations  also  confirms  the  view  that  this  work  is  of  great 
importance.  California,  with  her  well  developed  fruit  and  grain  indus- 
tries and  her  abundant  supply  of  bird  and  animal  life,  must  necessarily 
become  more  and  more  interested  in  the  conservation  of  those  birds  and 
animals  known  to  be  beneficial,  and  in  the  extermination- of  those  known 
to  be  harmful. 

It  is  a  well  known  fact  that  certain  birds  continually  give  trouble 
by  destroying  crops.  Some  of  these  same  birds  do  an  incalculable 
amount  of  good  by  destroying  certain  pests  such  as  mice  and  insects 
which  are  injurious  to  vegetation.  Still  others  because  they  have  both 
good  and  bad  habits  do  not  belong. to > either  class.  Opinion  as  to  the 
real  value  of  certain  birds  varies  greatly.  This  is  often  due  to  the  fact 
that  but  little  is  known  of  their  real  food  habits. 

Continued  complaints  from  the  farmers  and  fruit  growers  of  the 
State  have  been  made  to  the  California  Fish  and  Game  Commission 
regarding  the  losses  to  crops  caused  by  the  depredations  of  certain 
birds.  The  Commission  has  been  urged  repeatedly  to  take  strong  meas- 
ures to  avert  the  damage  done.  The  usual  measure  urged  is  that  the 
particular  bird  in  question  should  be  placed  on  the  unprotected  list. 
On  the  other  hand,  many  scientists  and  others  interested  in  birds,  have 
pointed  out  the  fact  that  birds  not  only  confer  a  great  benefit  in  keep- 
ing down  the  number  of  injurious  insects  and  weed  seeds,  but  also  that 
they  fill  a  niche  in  that  balance  of  nature  most  suited  to  mankind  which 
cannot  be  and  is  not  filled  by  any  other  form  of  life.  Man  profits 
greatly  by  the  services  of  birds,  but  not  appreciating  it,  he  returns  evil 
for  good.  Experience  has  shown  that  many  of  those  complaining  of 
the  depredations  of  birds  have  based  their  complaints  on  circumstantial 
evidence,  or  on  evidence  not  sufficiently  reasoned  out.  Furthermore, 
these  complaints  have  brought  out  the  fact  that  really  very  little  is 
known  of  the  food  habits  of  birds  throughout  the  whole  year.  Certain 
it  is  that  a  complete  knowledge  of  the  food  habits  of  a  bird  is  necessary 
to  a  determination  of  its  economic  status.  As  a  result,  therefore,  the 
California  Fish  and  Game  Commission  has  felt  that  legislation  should 
be  based  on  comprehensive  scientific  investigations  as  to  the  value  of 
birds,  and  not  on  circumstantial  evidence.  Consequently,  an  investiga- 
tion into  the  relations  of  the  birds  of  the  State  to  agricultural  and  other 
interests  was  instituted. 

In  order  that  the  investigation  be  both  scientific  and  practical,  it  was 
determined  to  obtain  precise  knowledge  of  the  food  of  birds  by  field 
2— 31 KJ 


work,  supplemented  by  stomach  examinations  of  birds  taken  in  many 
different  parts  of  the  State  each  month  in  the  year.  Both  of  these 
lines  of  investigation  are  important  as  they  each  supplement  the  other. 

A  thorough  knowledge  of  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  damage  done 
by  certain  of  our  birds,  combined  with  a  full  understanding  of  their 
value  to  the  agriculturist  as  insect  and  weed-seed  destroyers,  such  as 
is  being  made  available  by  this  investigation,  will  be  of  inestimable  value 
to  the  rancher.  For  certain  it  is  that  the  successful  farmer  of  today 
and  of  the  future  will  have  to  be  able  to  estimate  the  status  of  the  birds 
on  his  farm  with  reference  to  his  own  interests  and  to  those  of  the 
community,  and  adopt  measures  accordingly. 

Nor  should  the  results  of  the  investigation  be  interesting  to  the  agri- 
culturist alone.  The  United  States  Supreme  Court  has  ruled  that  game 
and  wild  birds  belong  to  the  people  and  not  to  individuals.  Informa- 
tion as  to  the  value  of  this  asset  becomes  important,  therefore,  just 
as  information  as  to  the  value  of  forests  is  important.  Consequently 
the  present  investigation  deserves  the  interest  and  support  of  not  alone 
those  directly  involved,  but  of  all  those  interested  in  the  conservation 
of  a  national  resource. 

Through  the  co-operation  of  the  University  of  California,  there  have 
been  afforded  not  only  suitable  laboratories  for  the  work  of  stomach 
examination,  but  also  the  advice  and  help  of  Professor  C.  A.  Kofoid 
of  the  Department  of  Zoology,  Mr.  Joseph  Grinnell,  Director  of  the 
Museum  of  Vertebrate  Zoology,  and  Professor  C.  W.  Woodworth  of 
the  Department  of  Entomology,  as  well  as  others  connected  with  that 
institution. 


THE  INVESTIGATION  AS  TO  METHOD. 


FIELD   INVESTIGATION.— A   STUDY   OF  THE   BIRD   AT  THE   SCENE  OF  ACTION. 

The  attempt  has  been  made  to  combine  the  best  of  the  methods  here- 
tofore used  by  economic  ornithologists,  and  to  supplement  these  methods 
by  new  ones  of  value.  We  believe  the  following  improved  methods  in 
determining  the  economic  status  of  birds  will  tend  to  a  nearer  Attain- 
ment of  the  end  sought — a  reliable  estimation  of  the  economic  value 
of  a  bird. 

1.  Complete  data  as  to  the  birds  collected  for  stomach  examination  is 
furnishing  information  as  to  the  variation  in  kind,  amount,  and  prefer- 
ence of  food  of  a  bird,  according  to  the  hour,  day,  week,  month,  year, 
environment,  and  sex. 

2.  The  use  of  a  combination  of  methods  of  stomach  examination  is 
tending  to  decrease  personal  error,  and  is  allowing  a  more  accurate 
determination  of  the  food  habits. 

3.  The  food  capacity  of  different  birds  is  being  determined  by  a  meas- 
urement of  the  volume  of  food  in  cubic  centimeters. 


4.  Experimentation  is  affording  data  as  to  the  amount,  kind,  and 
preference  of  food,  and  to  the  time  of  digestion. 

5.  Field  investigation  is  furnishing  evidence  as  to  the  depredations 
of  birds,  their  general  habits  and  abundance,  and  their  value  in  main- 
taining a  natural  equilibrium  of  insect  life. 

6.  Investigations  which  have  been  undertaken  to  determine  the  rela- 
tion of  birds  to  insect  outbreaks  are  demonstrating  the  economic  value 
of  birds  at  such  times. 

7.  A  comparison  of  all  the  helpful  qualities  of  a  bird  with  all  of  its 
qualities  injurious  to  the  welfare  of  mankind  is  affording  a  dependable 
criterion  of  its  economic  status. 

Next  to  the  knowledge  of  the  food  of  a  bird  in  determining  its 
economic  status,  is  a  knowledge  of  the  habits  of  a  bird.  Its  abundance, 
feeding  habits,  nesting  habits,  food  preferences,  its  depredations,  etc., 
are  all  factors  that  must  be  considered.  Evidence  along  this  line  can 
be  afforded  only  by  field  investigation. 

The  field  work  carried  on  thus  far  can  be  grouped  under  three  heads: 
studies  of  the  abundance,  feeding  habits,  nesting  habits,  etc. ;  studies 
of  the  food  of  birds ;  and  studies  of  the  relation  of  birds  to  insect  out- 
breaks. 

STUDIES    OF    THE    ABUNDANCE,    FEEDING    HABITS,    NESTING    HABITS,    ETC., 

OF  BIRDS. 

A  month's  time  has  been  spent  at  Lathrop,  San  Joaquin  County,  Cali- 
fornia, studying  the  abundance,  feeding  habits,  nesting  habits,  depreda- 
tions, etc.,  of  birds,  especial  attention  being  given  to  the  meadowlark 
and  blackbird.  This  particular  locality  was  chosen  because  it  afforded 
not  only  an  abundance  of  birds,  but  also  a  favorable  proportion  of  culti- 
vated and  uncultivated  land,  thus  allowing  a  study  of  food  preference. 

Censuses  and  studies  of  the  rate  of  reproduction  have  been  carried  on 
to  ascertain  the  relative  abundance.  Work  in  the  spring  of  1911  and 
1912  substantiated  the  fact  that  meadowlarks.  Brewer  blackbirds,  and 
red-winged  blackbirds  usually  nest  twice  each  }rear. 

The  average  brood  of  the  meadowlark  is  four,  although  the  number 
of  eggs  laid  is  usually  five.  Second  nestings  examined  have  usually 
showed  an  incomplete  set  of*  eggs.  A  preference  for  pasture  land  for 
nesting  sites  was  shown,  at  least  86  per  cent  of  these  found  being  so  situ- 
ated. The  time  of  incubation  was  found  to  be  fourteen  to  sixteen  days. 
The  young  stay  in  the  nest  but  a  short  time  (eight  to  ten  days).  Nest- 
lings are  subject  to  many  enemies,  such  as  the  skunk,  weasel,  mice,  and 
hawks,  and  the  number  of  broods  successfully  reared  is  less  than  that 
of  most  other  birds.  That  over  15  per  cent  of  the  nests  in  most  localities 
are  destroyed  by  predaceous  animals  and  birds  seems  a  very  conserva- 
tive estimate. 

These  facts  have  an  important  bearing  on  the  economic  relations  of 
the  meadowlark.  Their  particular  habitat  influences  the  amount  of 
damage  done,  due  to  the  locality  in  which  they  are  found.  Their  rate 


of  reproduction  influences  the  amount  of  damage  due  to  the  number  of 
individuals  to  be  expected  in  any  locality. 

STUDIES   OF  THE   FOOD   OF   BIRDS. 

No  small  part  of  the  field  work  has  consisted  in  investigations  of  the 
damage  caused  by  birds.  In  most  cases  the  field  work  has  been  sup- 
plemented by  stomach  examinations. 

Investigations  of  the  damage  caused  by  meadowlarks  has  led  to  the 
following  conclusions : 

1.  The  western  meadowlark  (Sturnella  neglecta)  is  destructive  in 
sprouting  grainfields,  because  of  its  habit  of  drilling  down  beside  the 
sprout  and  pulling  up  the  kernel.  The  amount  of  damage  done  is 
dependent  on  the  particular  location,  the  abundance  of  the  birds,  the 


.     • 


P'IG.  1. — Holes  drilled  by  western  meadowlarks  in  pulling  sprouting  grain.  Photo- 
graph taken  by  H.  C.  Bryant,  at  Lathrop,  San  Joaquin  County,  California,  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1912. 

character  of  the  soil,  and  the  kind  of  grain.  The  damage  to  oats  ijs 
greatest ;  wheat  suffers  considerable  damage,  whereas  barley  suffers  but 
little.  Broadcasted  grain  suffers  more  than  drilled,  because  not  being 
sowed  so  deeply,  it  is  more  easily  obtained  by  meadowlarks.  The  birds 
often  follow  the  drill  row,  however,  and  pull  almost  every  kernel 
(Fig.  1).  Occasionally,  where  meadowlarks  are  very  numerous  and  the 
quantity  of  grain  small,  fields  have  had  to  be  resown.  The  real  amount 
of  damage  done  has  evidently  been  overestimated,  for  fields  apparently 
badly  damaged  have  given  the  average  yield  later  in  the  year.  After 
the  second  and  third  leaf  appears  on  the  grain,  the  bird  can  do  little 
damage.  This  fact  reduces  the  duration  of  their  depredations  to  less 
than  two  weeks,  and  consequently  minimizes  the  amount  of  destruction 
possible. 


2.  Investigation  of  complaints  that  meadowlarks  are  destructive  to 
melons  has  shown  that  damage  caused  in  this  way  has  been  exaggerated. 
Melon  growers,  although  admitting  that  the  birds  cause  considerable 
damage,  have  often  been  unable  to  demonstrate  the  actual  damage  in 
the  field.  Of  two  melon  growers  in  the  vicinity  of  Dinuba,  whose  names 
\\nv  handed  in  as  men  who  were  greatly  troubled,  one  returned  a  ver- 
dict of  ''not  guilty"  and  the  other  admitted  that  the  damage  was  not 


,»    •  **>' 

«  f^          -     f    •». 


\ 

I 

* 


'      v      -    „    V 


FIG.  2. — Red-winged  blackbirds  feeding  on   kafir  corn.     Photograph   taken   by  H.   C. 
Bryant,  at  Lathrop,  San  Joaquin  County,  California,  October  3,   1912. 

very  great.  All  of  the  growers  report  that  as  soon  as  there  are  broken 
melons  in  the  field  the  birds  cease  to  be  troublesome.  From  the  evidence 
obtainable,  it  appears  that  the  meadowlark  drills  into  melons  to  obtain 
water.  The  placing  of  water  in  a  field  as  an  experiment  would  doubt- 
less confirm  or  abrogate  this  view.  Such  an  experiment  is  contemplated. 
3.  Censuses  have  demonstrated  that  the  western  meadowlark  prefers 
grass  land  to  cultivated  land,  nearly  50  per  cent  more  birds  being  found 
on  the  first  named. 


Investigation  of  the  damage  caused  by  blackbirds  has  led  to  the  fol- 
lowing conclusions : 

1.  Red-winged  blackbirds  (Agelaius  phwniceus  subsp.)  and  (Agelaius 
tricolor),  because  of  their  greater  abundance  and  their  food  habits  are 
by  far  the  most  destructive  of  the  blackbirds. 

2.  The    percentage    of    insect    food    taken    by    Brewer    blackbirds 
(Euphagus  cyanocephalus)   is  much  greater  than  that  taken  -by  red-, 
wings. 

3.  Red-winged  blackbirds   are   destructive  to  barley  when   "in  the 
milk."     Ranches  within  ten  miles  of  rivers  or  other  breeding  grounds 
are  the  most  affected.     The  amount  of  destruction  varies  greatly  with 
the  abundance  of  the  birds. 

4.  Red- winged  blackbirds  are  destructive  to  Egyptian  corn  and  kafir 
corn  (Fig.  2).     They  appear  to  be  especially  fond  of  this  sort  of  grain 
and   will   gather   in   flocks   of   thousands,   often   causing   considerable 
damage,  especially  near  rivers  where  the  birds  are  abundant.     Small 
fields    of   this   sort   of    grain   are   often    completely   stripped   by   the 
birds.     Milo  maize  suffers  little  damage  if  these  other  grains  are  avail- 
able.    Protection  of  fields  by  scarecrows  or  by  shooting  has  proved 
unsuccessful. 

An  investigation  of  the  damage  to  almonds  caused  by  the  Lewis  wood- 
pecker (Asyndesmus  lewisi)  showed  that  this  bird  was  destructive  to 
almonds  in  certain  localities,  in  the  spring  of  1912.  The  almond 
growers  of  the  Capay  Valley  apparently  suffered  the  most,  and  prob- 
ably with  good  reason,  for  in  this  particular  valley  the  birds  were 
especially  abundant.  Over  65  per  cent  of  all  the  food  eaten  by  the  birds 
examined  was  made  up  of  small  pieces  of  almonds.  The  exceptionally 
dry  year  which  caused  a  shortage  in  the  usual  food  supply,  was  prob- 
ably responsible  for  this  unusual  occurrence. 

STUDIES    OF    THE    RELATION    OF    BIRDS    TO    INSECT    OUTBREAKS. 

A  study  of  these  same  birds  at  the  time  of  an  insect  outbreak  has 
shown  them  to  be  important  in  the  restoration  of  that  balance  of  nature 
most  suited  to  mankind.  In  the  investigation  of  an  insect  outbreak  in 
northern  California  during  the  spring  and  summer  of  1911,  when  th& 
nymphalid  butterfly  (Eugonia  calif ornica)  became  abnormally  abundant, 
it  was  found  that  the  Brewer  blackbird  was  the  most  efficient  destroyer 
of  the  insects,  botH  on  account  of  its  numbers  and  its  food  habits,  taking 
95  per  cent  of  all  the  butterflies  taken  by  birds.  Examination  of  the 
stomachs  of  thirteen  red-winged  blackbirds  (Agelaius  pkmniceus 
subsp.)  showed  that  over  93  per  cent  of  their  food  was  of  vegetable 
matter.  The  Brewer  blackbirds  (Euphagus  cyanocephalus)  examined, 
'on  the  other  hand;  had  taken  83  per  cent  of  animal  food,  showing  the 
vast  difference  in  food  habits.  Meadowlarks  were  found  to  feed  on 
the  butterflies  to  a  small  extent,  as  was  also  the  western  kingbird 
(Tyrannus  verticalis),  the  blue  fronted  jay  (Cyanocitta  stelleri  fron- 
talis),  and  the  Say  phoebe  (Sayornis  say  us). 


EXPERIMENTATION. 

EXPERIMENTS  WITH    CAPTIVE   BIRDS. 

Experiments  to  determine  the  kind  and  quantity  of  food,  and  the 
time  of  digestion  have  been  carried  on.  Nestling  birds,  because  they 
were  most  available,  were  used  in  the  experiments.  The  birds  were  not 
allowed  any  food  for  a  long  enough  time  to  insure  an  empty  stomach. 
They  were  then  fed  a  certain  amount  of  food.  After  varying  periods 
of  time  they  were  killed  and  the  stomachs  and  intestines  examined. 
The  position  and  condition  of  the  food  (recognizable  hard  parts)  in  the 
stomach  and  intestines  at  intervals  after  feeding,  afforded  evidence  as 
to  the  time  of  digestion.  Evidence  as  to  the  food  of  nestlings  has  also 
been  obtained.  A  daily  weighing  of  the  nestlings  and  their  excreta 
has  furnished  evidence  as  to  the  quantity  of  food  required. 

The  results  can  be  summed  up  as  follows : 

1.  Meadowlarks  have  a  great  capacity  for  food.     A  nestling  was  fed 
twenty-eight  grasshoppers   (one  half  inch  in  length)   inside  of  fifteen 
minutes. 

2.  The  time  of  digestion  of  grasshoppers  and  beetles  is  two  to  four 
hours.     Cut  worms  are  digested  more  quickly. 

3.  The  time  of  digestion  of  grain  (wheat)  is  three  to  six  hours. 

4.  Nestlings  are  fed  almost  exclusively  on  insects — cutworms,  beetles, 
and  grasshoppers  being  the  principal  items. 

5.  Nestling  meadowlarks  consume  about  their  own  weight  of  food 
every  day.     They  gain  very  nearly  one  fourth  of  an  ounce  in  weight 
each  day  they  are  in  the  nest. 

LABORATORY    EXAMINATION    OF    STOMACHS. 
COLLECTION    OP    NON-GAME   BIRDS. 

Collections  of  birds  in  sufficient  numbers  to  furnish  reliable  data, 
collected  every  two  weeks  during  the  year,  and  from  over  twenty-five 
different  localities  in  the  State,  have  been  made  available  through  the 
co-operation  of  the  deputies  of  the  Commission.  Each  bird  has  been 
tagged  with  data  as  to  date,  time  of  day,  locality,  kind  of  field  or 
orchard,  and  name  of  collector.  They  have  then  been  preserved  in 
formalin  solution  and  shipped  to  the  University.  On  the  arrival  of 
shipments  at  the  laboratory  the  stomach  has  been  removed  and  data 
as  to  the  species  and  sex  of  the  different  birds  added.  The  tag  bearing 
complete  data  has  then  been  wrapped  with  the  stomach  in  a  small  cloth 
and  preserved  in  formalin  solution  until  microscopically  examined. 
Although  the  collection  of  non-game  birds  by  the  deputies  for  the  inves- 
tigation has  often  been  interfered  with  by  the  absence  of  the  deputy 
on  important  work,  or  by  the  replacing  of  deputies,  yet  series  of  birds 
taken  each  month  of  the  year  fn  sufficient  numbers  to  furnish  reliable 
evidence  as  to  their  food  are  at  hand  from  many  different  localities  in 
the  State.  So  far  as  possible  all  incomplete  series  will  be  completed 
this  coming  year. 


—  10  - 


In  order  that  the  work  in  1911  might  be  verified,  collections  have 
been  continued  in  several  places  during  1912.  This  will  afford  a  com- 
parison of  the  food  in  two  succeeding  years. 

The  accompanying  map  (Fig.  3.)  shows  the  localities  in  which  col- 
lections have  been  made.  The  localities  from  which  complete  series 
were  made  and  those  localities  from  which  incomplete  series  have  been 
obtained  are  indicated. 

A  correct  determination  of  the  economic  status  of  a  bird  is  largely 
dependent  on  a  knowledge  of  its  food.  The  food  of  a  bird  can  be 


LEGEND 

O  Complete  series 
"4"    Incomplete   series 


FIG.  3. — Map  of  California  showing  localities  from  which  non- 
game  birds  have  been  collected  for   stomach  examination. 

EXAMINATION   OF   STOMACH    CONTENTS. 

roughly  determined  by  watching  the  bird  in  the  field.  The  most 
dependable  data  concerning  the  food  of  most  birds,  however,  is  obtained 
by  examining  the  contents  of  the  bird's  stomach.  Consequently 
stomach  examination  has  been  largely  depended  upon  to  furnish  needed 
evidence  as  to  the  food  of  the  birds  under  investigation. 

In  the  examination  of  the  stomach  contents  a  Zeiss  binocular  has  been 
used.  After  the  contents  has  been  carefully  removed  from  the  stomach 
and  placed  on  a  glass  plate,  the  binocular  is  used  in  sorting,  counting, 


—  11  — 

and  identifying  the  different  kinds  of  food.  A  determination  of  the 
number  of  insects,  seeds,  etc.,  is  made  by  counts.  The  number  of  grass- 
hoppers and  crickets  eaten  is  determined  by  a  count  of  the  paired 
mandibles  found.  The  undigested  skins  furnish  evidence  as  to  the 
number  of  cutworms;  and  the  number  of  heads  found  determines  the 
number  of  beetles  and  bugs.  The  data  both  as  to  the  bird  and  the 
stomach  contents  is  then  recorded  on  a  stomach  blank.  The  stomach 
contents  has  been  preserved  in  small  vials  in  every  case,  so  that  a  verifi- 


FIG.  4. — Photograph  of  the  stomach  contents  of  a  western  meadowlark,  taken  in  a 
grainfield  at  El  Toro,  Orange  County,  California,  May  5,  1911.  The  stomach 
contained  19  oat  kernels,  oat  hulls,  and  parts  of  two  small  beetles.  (Original.) 

cation  of  the  work  is  possible  at  all  times.  Final  data  is  recorded  on 
large  blanks,  which,  when  bound  together,  will  give  a  complete  record 
of  each  stomach  examined. 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  stomachs  microscopically  examined 
in  the  laboratory,  from  January  1,  1911,  to  June  30,  1912: 

Bird  Stomachs  Microscopically  Examined  January  1,  1911,  to  June  SO,  1912. 


I 

I 


25  I    1,011 


—  12  — 

IDENTIFICATION    OF    STOMACH    CONTENTS. 

The  different  insects,  seeds,  etc.,  found  in  a  bird's  stomach  are  often 
30  finely  comminuted  that  they  are  difficult  to  identify.  Much  of  the 
material,  however,  it  has  been  possible  to  determine  as  far  as  the  family, 
and  in  many  instances  to  the  genus  and  species.  The  food  contained 
in  a  bird's  stomach  can  usually  easily  be  separated  into  two  classes — 
animal  food  and  vegetable  food.  The  animal  food  consists  largely  of 
insects,  and  the  vegetable  food  of  grain  and  weed  seeds  (Fig.  4). 
Reference  collections  of  insects  and  weed  seeds  have  afforded  material 
for  comparison.  Identification  by  government  experts  has  often  been 
resorted  to. 

SOME    FACTS    BROUGHT    OUT    BY    THE    STOMACH    EXAMINATION. 

Among  the  insects  found  in  the  stomachs  of  western  meadowlarks,  the 
following  are  the  most  common : 

Orthoptera. 

•Cricket Gryllus  pennsylvanicus. 

Jerusalem    cricket Stenopelmatus   californicus. 

Grasshopper   Dissosteira  spurcata. 

Valley   grasshopper Oedaleonotus  enigma. 

Differential  grasshopper Mclanoplus  differentialis 

Grasshopper   Shistocerca  sp. 

Hemiptcra. 

Squash-bug Anasa   sp. 

Stink-bug    Podisus  sp. 

Stink-bug    Pentatoma  sp. 

Leaf  hopper Stictocepkala  franciscana. 

Negro-bug '. Corimelcena  anthracina. 

Diptera. 

•Cicada Platypcdia  sp. 

Flower-fly   Eristelis  tenax. 

Flower-fly Syrphus. 

Ground-beetle Pterosticus  sp. 

Ground-beetle Anisodactylus  dilatus. 

Pinicate  bug Eleodes  sp. 

•Carrion-beetle Bilpha   sp. 

Rove-beetle Staphylinus  sp. 

•Click-beetle Drasterius  sp. 

Limonius  californicus. 

Limonius  canis. 
Devil-beetle Phloedes  diabolicus. 

Platynus  ovipennis. 

Coniontis   subpubescens. 

Calathus  ruficolus. 

Blapstinus  sp. 

California  flower-beetle Diabrotica  soror. 

Lieaf-beetle Disonycha  sp. 

Cardiophorus  tenebrosus. 

Saprinus  fimbriatus, 
Grain  weevil . Sphenophorus  sp. 

Hymenoptera. 

•Cuckoo-fly Chrysis   sp. 

Bumblebee    Bombus  californicus. 

Carpenter  ant . Camponotus  sp. 

Harvester  ant Messor  andrei. 

California  agricultural  ant Pogonomyrne  californicus. 

Wasp Vespa  sp. 

•Cow-killer Spliwrophthalma  californica. 


—  13  — 

Beetles  are  taken  each  month  of  the  year.  Cutworms  form  a  large 
percentage  of  the  food  during  the  spring,  whereas  grasshoppers  and 
crickets  form  the  largest  part  of  the  food  during  the  summer  and  fall 
months  (Fig.  5,  Fig.  6).  Certain  plant  bugs,  wild  bees,  wasps,  ichneu- 
mon flies,  and  ants  are  also  taken  to  a  less  extent.  Spiders,  scorpions, 
ant  lions  (Myrmeleon  sp.),  centipedes  (Scoleopendra  sp.),  thousand- 
pegged  worms  (Tulus  sp.),  and  sowbugs  have  also  been  found. 

Grain  has  been  been  found  in  considerable  quantity  in  the  stomachs 
of  meadowlarks.  Oats  appears  to  be  preferred,  although  wheat  is  often 
found.  The  wild  variety  of  oats  (Avena  fatua)  far  exceeds  in  amount 
the  cultivated  varieties.  Very  little  of  that  found  in  the  stomachs  is 
sprouted.  Field  investigation  showed  that  sprouted  grain  is  often 
crushed  in  the  bill  to  get  the  milk,  and  then  dropped  on  the  ground. 

Seeds  of  the  following  common  weeds  have  been  taken  from  the 
stomachs  of  western  meadowlarks : 

Sorghum Andropogon  sorghum. 

Canary-grass Phalaris   sp. 

Darnel Lolium  temulentum. 

Amaranth   Amaranthus  sp. 

Buttercup   Ranunculus  sp. 

Knotweed    Polygonum   sp. 

Mustard    Brassica  sp. 

Bur-clover Medicago  denticulata. 

Clover Trifolium  sp. 

Sweet  clover Metilotus  sp. 

Alfalfa Hedicago  arabica. 

Dock Rumex  crispus. 

Alfilaria    Erodium  cicutarium. 

Turkey  weed Eremocarpus  setigerus. 

Amsinckia Amsinckia  intermedia. 

Nightshade    Solanum  sp. 

Bedstraw Galium  sp. 

Tarweed    Hemizonia  sp. 

Star-thistle Centaurea  melitensis. 

Zea Zca  mays. 

The  relative  proportions  of  animal  and  vegetable  matter  taken  by 
western  meadowlarks  in  California  has  been  fairly  well  demonstrated 
by  the  stomach  examinations.  The  average  amounts  of  the  different 
kinds  of  food  consumed  by  650  meadowlarks  taken  at  six  different  local- 
ities in  the  State  (Red  Bluff,  Tehama  County;  Live  Oak,  Yolo  County; 
Newman,  Stanislaus  County;  Hanford,  Kings  County;  Big  Pine,  Inyo 
County,  and  San  Diego,  San  Diego  County),  when  platted  in  the  form 
cf  a  curve,  show  the  following  results  (Fig.  8).  The  minimum  amount 
of  animal  food  (4.15  per  cent)  is  taken  in  January,  and  the  maximum 
93.83  per  cent)  in  July.  During  the  spring  months  there  is  a  sudden 
increase  in  the  amount  of  animal  food  taken,  whereas  a  sudden  decrease 
is  to  be  noted  in  the  fall  months.  The  percentage  closely  parallels  the 
availability  of  insect  food.  The  maximum  amount  of  cutworms  is  taken 
in  May  and  June ;  the  maximum'  number  of  grasshoppers  in  July  and 
August.  Grain  as  an  element  of  food  reaches  a  maximum  in  January 
and  a  minimum  during  July.  The  maximum  consumption  of  weed  seeds 
is  in  October. 


I 


FIG.  5. — Photograph  of  twelve  pair  of  mandibles  of  the  common  cricket  (Gryllus  sp.) 
taken  from  the  stomach  of  a  western  meadowlark  collected  in  a  grain  field  at  El 
Toro,  Orange  County,  California,  April  18,  1911.  (Original.) 


*       %    *     *      •« 


FIG.  6. — Photograph  of  stomach  contents  of  a  western  meadowlark  collected  at  Big 
Pine,  Inyo  County,  California,  April  19,  1911.  The  stomach  contained  13  cut- 
worms, 26  elaterid  beetles  (Drasterius  sp. ),  and  ten  small  ground  beetles. 
(  Original. "» 


—  15  — 


*'***»***» 


FIG.  7. — Photograph  of  stomach  contents  of  a  western  meadowlark  taken  in  a  barley 
field  at  El  Toro,  Orange  County,  California,  May  3,  1911.  The  stomach  contained 
2  cutworms,  44  ground  beetles  (Calathus  ruficollis),  2  flies,  1  spider,  and  13  fly 
pupae  (Syrphus.).  (Original.) 

The  total  food  for  the  year  consists  of  58.6  per  cent  of  animal  matter 
and  41.4  per  cent  of  vegetable  matter.  This  result  differs  considerably 
from  that  of  Beale  (Birds  of  California,  U.  S.  Dept.  Agric.,  Div.  Biol. 
Surv.,  Bull.  34,  1910,  p.  66).  In  the  examination  of  91  meadowlarks 
collected  in  California  Dr.  Beale  found  70  per  cent  of  animal  and  30 
per  cent  of  vegetable  matter.  The  difference  may  be  due  to  the  fact  that 
most  of  the  birds  examined  by  the  writer  were  evenly  distributed 
through  the  year  and  were  collected  in  localities  where  grain  was 
obtainable.  This  larger  percentage  of  vegetable  matter  does  not  neces- 
sarily minimize  the  value  of  the  bird,  for  a  large  part  (30  per  cent)  is 
made  up  of  weed  seed.  It  seems  reasonable  to  believe  that  the  examina- 
tion of  a  larger  number  of  stomachs  of  meadowlarks  will  not  appreciably 
change  these  results.  It  can  be  expected,  however,  that  additional  data 
will  smooth  out  the  accompanying  curve. 

Stomach  examination  of  red-winged  blackbirds  has  demonstrated  the 
fact  that  they  feed  to  a  considerable  extent  on  vegetable  matter,  weed 
seed  being  the  principal  element.  Cutworms  and  grasshoppers  form  a 
large  percentage  of  the  food  when  they^re  available. 

Brewer  blackbirds  take  a  larger  percentage  of  animal  food  than  do  the 
red-wings.  They  appear  to  be  especially  beneficial  in  the  destruction  of 
cut  worms,  wireworms,  and  grasshoppers. 

Too  few  stomachs  have  been  examined  to  give  any  adequate  idea  of 
the  food-habits  of  the  western  robin.  The  material  found  in  the 
stomachs  examined  has  been  composed  largely  of  wild  fruit  and  cut- 
worms. One  hundred  and  ninety-two  small  cutworms  were  found  in  one 
of  the  stomachs. 


—  16  — 


Stomach  examinations  of  the  mourning  dove  has  shown  the  bird  to  be 
very  valuable  as  a  destroyer  of  weed  seeds.  Its  great  capacity  (several 
thousand  seeds  having  been  found  in  a  single  stomach)  and  its  fondness 
for  the  seeds  of  such  weed  pests  as  the  mustard,  turkey  mullein,  and 
tumble  weed  attest  its  value.  A  very  strong  sentiment  in  favor  of  plac- 
ing this  bird  on  the  protected  list  is  rapidly  being  developed  in  this 


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FIG.  8. — Diagram  showing  the  proportion  of  animal  and  vegetable  food  of  the|western 
meadowlark   (Sturnella  neglecta)   for  the  year. 

State.     Further  work  will  certainly  but  demonstrate  anew  the  value  of 
this  bird  to  agricultural  interests. 

Judging  from  the  examination  of  one  stomach,  the  investigation  of 
the  food-habits  of  the  roadrunner  will  reveal  some  astonishing  facts  as 
to  its  capacity  and  food.     The  following  was  found  in  the  stomach : 
12  grasshoppers. 

1  cicada  fly  (Platypedia,  sp.) 

2  noctuid  moths. 

1  ant  lion    (Myrmeleon  sp.) 

2  robber  flies. 
2  beetles. 

G  bumble  bees. 

4  spiders. 

1  harvest  mouse    (Reithrodontomys   longicauda) . 

1  egg  mass. 


VIEWS  OF  THE   MEN    CONCERNED. 

In  order  that  the  men  most  directly  concerned  might  furnish  evidence 
as  to  the  economic  value  of  the  meadowlark,  a  list  of  questions  has  been 
sent  out  to  ranchers  throughout  the  State.  The  response  to  these 
circular  letters  has  not  been  as  great  as  was  hoped  it  might  be.  More 
of  the  blanks  will  be  distributed  this  coming  year,  so  that  a  fairer  idea 
of  the  opinion  of  ranchers  may  be  obtained.  The  questions,  with  a 
summary  of  the  answers  received,  follow : 

DEAR  SIB  :  The  State  Fish  and  Game  Commission  has  taken  up  the  study  of  the 
meadowlark  in  its  relation  to  agriculture  and  desires  to  know  what  you  think  of  the 
bird.     In  order  to  secure  comprehensive  and  uniform  data  answers  to  the  following- 
questions  are  urgently  requested : 
1.  Name : 2.    Address . 

3.  Occupation   

4.  How  many  acres  of  land  do  you  own? Is  your  ranch  hilly,  upland  or 

bottom   land? 

5.  What  is  the  principal  crop  raised? What 

other  crops?   

6.  Has  the  meadowlark  done  any  harm  on  your  place? 

If  so,  how  and  to  what  extent? 

7.  Have  you  examined  the  stomachs  of  any  meadowlarks  to  ascertain  their  food? 

If  so,  what  was  in  the  stomach? 

8.  Approximately,  how  many  meadowlarks  are  seen  daily  on  your  place? 

Are  the  numbers  any  greater  when  the  grain  is  sprouting? 

9.  Do  you  prize  the  meadowlark  as  a  song  bird?- . 

10.  On  the  whole  do  you  consider  the  meadowlark  a  nuisance? 


When  the  returns  as  to  whether  the  meadowlark  is  a  nuisance,  and  as 
to  whether  it  causes  damage  to  crops  are  classified  as  to  counties,  the 
results  are  as  follows : 


Locality. 

Xumter 
reporting. 

Is  the  meadowlark 
a  nuisance? 

Does  the  meadow- 
lark  damage  crops  ? 

.e, 

No. 

Yes. 

No. 

Coast    counties 

13 

39 
76 
12 

3 

20 
28 
1 

9 
13 
41 
10 

24 
33 

2  I 

9 
15 
43 
10 

Central  valley  counties 

Northern    California 

Southern    California    _. 

The  results  show  that  a  majority  of  those  who  have  taken  the  trouble 
to  answer  the  circular  letter  do  not  consider  the  meadowlark  a  nuisance. 
When  the  answers  are  classified  as  to  counties,  it  becomes  evident  that 
the  bird  does  practically  no  harm  in  Southern  California.  The  greatest 
amount  of  complaint  comes  from  the  San  Joaquin  Vallej'.  This  can  be 
easily  explained.  Grain  is  the  usual 'crop  raised  in  this  locality,  and 
meadowlarks  are  more  abundant  here  than  elsewhere.  The  combination 
of  these  two  factors  explains  the  reason  for  this  greater  complaint. 
These  reports  have  substantiated  the  conclusions  reached  in  field  work — 
damage  to  sprouting  oats -is  greatest;  damage  to  melons  has  been 
exaggerated. 


—  18  — 

DETERMINATION    OF    THE    ECONOMIC    STATUS    OF    A    BIRD. 

Birds  were  originally  catalogued  as  injurious  or  beneficial  from  cir- 
cumstantial evidence.  If  a  bird  was  seen  in  the  grainfield  or  in  the 
orchard  it  was  forthwith  condemned  as  injurious.  The  modern  method 
of  determination  rests  on  the  respective  percentage  of  injurious  as 
against  beneficial  insects,  and  the  percentage  of  weed  seeds  taken  by  a 
bird.  Too  often  this  method  takes  too  little  account  of  the  depredations 
of  the  bird  and  of  its  general  habits  and  interrelations.  A  balancing  of 
the  sum  of  all  the  good  done  by  a  bird  with  the  sum  of  all  the  evil, 
appears  to  most  nearly  determine  its  economic  value.  It  is  this  method 
that  is  being  used  in  the  investigation.  The  life  histories  of  each  bird 
under  investigation,  its  depredations,  migrations,  and  food  habits  are  all 
receiving  attention,  so  that  its  interrelations  may  be  as  well  known  as 
its  food. 

PROGRESS    OF    THE    WORK. 

Considerable  data  regarding  the  depredations,  food  habits,  etc.,  of  the 
birds  under  investigation  and  other  birds  has  been  accumulated  through 
field  work.  Reliable  evidence  in  the  form  of  photographs  has  been 
obtained  wherever  possible.  Arrangements  have  been  made  to  furnish 
certain  high  schools  in  the  State  with  needed  material  made  available 
by  the  investigation. 

Through  the  co-operation  of  the  deputies  of  the  Commission,  some 
forty-five  hundred  bird  stomachs  have  been  collected  and  preserved  and 
are  now  awaiting  examination.  The  stomachs  of  over  one  thousand 
birds  have  been  examined  in  the  laboratory.  Over  eight  hundred  and 
thirty  of  them  have  been  those  of  meadowlarks.  Many  of  the  insects 
and  weed  seeds  found  in  the  stomachs  have  been  identified.  Reference 
collections  of  insects  and  weed  seeds  have  been  started.  Certain  inter- 
esting scientific  data  concerning  distribution,  variation,  malformation, 
and  parasitism  has  come  to  light  in  the  laboratory  work.  A  considerable 
amount  of  correspondence  has  been  carried  on,  and  a  circular  letter 
regarding  the  meadowlark  has  been  sent  to  ranchers  throughout  the 
State. 

The  attempt  has  been  made  to  keep  the  people  of  the  State  in  touch 
with  the  work  by  means  of  newspaper  articles..  Each  field  investigation 
has  been  advertised  in  the  local  newspapers  and  full  reports  publishe^l 
and  circulated.  Notes  on  the  progress  in  the  examination  of  stomachs 
have  also  been  published.  Up  to  date  the  following  reports  have  been 
published : 

"Is  the  Meadowlark  the  Farmer's  Friend?"     Pacific  Rural  Press. 

Letter  written  by  H.  C.  Bryant,  assistant  in  charge  of  Bird  Investigation,  to  the 
editor  of  the  San  Bernardino  Sun.  California  Fish  and  Game  Commission, 
Bull.  No.  1,  pp.  13-14. 

"The  Relation  of  Birds  to  an  Insect  Outbreak  in  Northern  California  During 
the  Spring  and  Summer  of  1911."  The  Condor,  13,  195-208. 

"The  Economic  Status  of  the  Meadowlark  in  California."  The  Monthly  Bul- 
letin of  the  State  Horticultural  Commission,  1,  No.  6,  pp.  226-231. 

"The  Lewis  Woodpecker — a  Destroyer  of  Almonds."  The  Monthly  Bulletin  of 
the  State  Horticultural  Commission,  1,  No.  8,  pp.  363-366. 


'CALIFORNIA 

Several  lectures  bearing  on  the  work  have  been  given.  Additional 
opportunity  in  this  direction  has  been  furnished  by  extension  work  on 
the  University  Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Demonstration  Train. 
During  the  season  1911-1912  this  train  covered  over  5,000  miles,  made 
nearly  250  stops,  and  entertained  102,000  people.  An  exhibition  of 
''Native  Birds  and  Mammals,"  consisting  of  collections  of  native  birds 
and  mammals  arranged  and  labeled  so  as  to  show  how  each  affects  the 
farmer,  and  stomach  contents,  charts,  and  photographs  illustrating  the 
food  habits  of  the  common  birds,  afforded  the  farmers  of  the  State  some 
of  the  results  of  the  investigation.  On  the  other  hand,  it  afforded 
opportunity  to  become  better  acquainted  with  the  complaints  of  the  men 
most  concerned. 

A  report  of  work  done  in  connection  with  the  exhibit  of  ' '  Native  Birds 
and  Mammals"  on  the  Agricultural  Demonstration  Train  of  the  season 
1910-1911,  and  an  "Annual  Report"  have  also  been  made  to  your 
honorable  board. 

WORK   IN    PROSPECT,    AND    DEMANDING   ATTENTION. 

The  attempt  will  be  made  to  complete  the  study  of  the  western 
meadowlark  by  the  first  of  the  year.  The  results  will  be  published  in 
the  form  of  a  bulletin. 

The  field  work  will  continue  the  determination  of  the  extent  of  the 
depredations  of  the  birds  under  investigation,  the  experimental  deter- 
mination of  the  kind  and  amount  of  food  and  the  time  of  digestion,  and 
studies  of  the  relation  of  birds  to  insect  outbreaks.  An  investigation  of 
the  relation  of  birds  to  a  grasshopper  outbreak  is  already  under  way. 
The  main  part  of  the  work  will  consist  in  completing,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, the  examination  of  the  stomachs  now  on  hand,  the  tabulation  of 
the  acquired  data,  and  the  publication  of  final  reports  on  the  birds 
under  investigation.  Papers  on  the  following  subjects  are  in  process 
of  preparation : 

' '  Native  Birds  and  Mammals. ' ' 

"The  Present  Status  of  the  California  Valley  Quail." 
"Birds  in  Relation  to  a  Grasshopper  Outbreak  in  California." 
"The  Food-habits  of  the  Meadowlark  in  California." 
"A  Study  of  the  Determination  of  the  Economic  Status  of  Birds." 
"The  Food-habits  of  the  Roadrunner." 

"The  Blackbirds  of  California  in  Their  Economic  Relations." 
' '  The  Mourning  Dove  as  a  Weed  Seed  Destroyer. ' ' 
The  game  in  the  State  of  California  is  no  small  asset.  Its  conserva- 
tion is  important.  Much  work  as  regards  the  life  histories  of  the  game 
birds  of  the  State  needs  to  be  done.  In  a  good  many  instances  little  is 
known  of  the  abundance,  distribution,  migration's,  and  food-habits  of  our 
game  birds.  Such  knowledge  is  necessary  for  proper  protection  and 
legislation.  This  department  plans  to  extend  its  investigations  to  the 
game  birds  of  the  State,  so  that  positive  data  regarding  them  will  be 
available.  A  paper  on  "The  Present  and  Future  Status  of  the  Cali- 
fornia Valley  Quail,"  printed  in  this  bulletin,  is  a  preliminary  report 
on  this.  California 's  mast  valuable  game  bird. 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW 

AN     INITIAL    FINE    OF    25     CENTS 

WILL  BE  ASSESSED  FOR  FAILURE  TO  RETURN 
THIS  BOOK  ON  THE  DATE  DUE.  THE  PENALTY 
WILL  INCREASE  TO  SO  CENTS  ON  THE  FOURTH 
DAY  AND  TO  $1.OO  ON  THE  SEVENTH  DAY 


OCT    9    1933 
OV  171935 

MOV  17  193 
"kR  25 


LD  21-50m-l,' 


271438 


S&9Q5- 


YC  63203 


UNIVERSITY.  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


